Spartans End Season With Double Overtime Loss To Panthers

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The University of Tampa Spartans men's basketball team dropped their season finale, a double-overtime thriller against the Florida Tech Panthers, 90-84.

Final: Florida Tech Panthers 90, University of Tampa Spartans 84

Records: Tampa (3-4), Florida Tech (4-3).

Location: Charles Ruth Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.

All-Time Series: Tampa trails the all-time series 55-28.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

The Spartans opened the game with an all-around scoring effort led by Freshman Max Jones, who scored five quick points in the early going. Jones started things off with a layup in the paint and immediately answered the Panthers' three-point with one of his own on the Fastbreak. The score was 11-8 at the 14:45 mark, with additional baskets coming from Senior Jonathan Bryant II, Senior Khadim Gueye, and Freshman De'Andre Harvey. The Panthers answered with a 7-0 run and led the rest of the quarter. A Bryant II layup got Tampa within 3, for a 28-25 Florida Tech score with 1:18 left in the half. Jones led Tampa with 10 points. Bryant II, Senior Brent Duncan, and Senior Derrick Felder each had four points. Score: 32-26 FLT

SECOND HALF

The second half was the Jones show, as the standout freshman scored 19 points in the half on 6-10 shooting. The Clearwater product stole the show in the latter part of the half, scoring 16 of Tampa's 22 points to close the half. Jones scored the final five points of the quarter to tie the game and send it to overtime. Sophomore Jacob Harris scored nine points on 3-5 shooting and added four rebounds and three assists. Score: 64-64 Tie

OVERTIME

In the first overtime period, Jones again led the way with seven points scored. The only other person to score in the period was Bryant II, who added four points. Tampa led by two with 11 seconds to go before a pair of late Panther free throws tied the game at 77.

Tampa was outscored by the Panthers in the second overtime period 13-6 and dropped their fourth game of the year. Score: 90-84 FLT

INSIDE THE STATS

• Three other Spartans scored in double digits: Jonathan Bryant II (12), Senior Derrick Felder (11), and De'Andre Harvey (10).
• UT bullied the Panthers in the paint, outscoring them 42-30.

BEYOND THE BOX

• Max Jones 39 points are a career high. His 22.6 points per game average are second in the Sunshine State Conference.
• Jones 16 free-throw shots are a career high, as are his 13 makes.

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